Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Monday May 7, 2007

Pride Christ And Choice

Life has a way of building hopes and then very forcefully slapping you in the face with said hopes. I had such an experience recently at a public gathering. I espied an old friend who for reasons of false info given to him had decided to hate me with a fury. In the course of the outing I went up and said, "Hi, how are you doing?" He informed that he did not want to speak with me, nor did he want me to speak to him as he considered me to be "A wolf in sheeps clothing." He was so upset that tears actually ran down his cheek.

How do you react when something like this happens? Often, people stand or sit and try to reason. Have at it, and it is near certain to escalate. Is there a proper way to react? I think so and it involves a few steps that may in the long term help bring about less emotion and reconciliation at some future point. If you go right at it and try to straighten the person out about his/her opinion of you, you only drive the problem to deeper levels.

Over the years I have reached a point to where I understand that if someone does not want me to speak them, it isn't the end of the world for me or them. The sun will rise in the east, unless some politician meddles with it overnight, the birds will sing, my wife will assure me that with one less person to speak to, I will now have more time for her. She has things like this all figured out.

Do I care that a man who formerly considered himself to be my friend does not want me to speak to him? Of course I care. I know of no way to work it out instantly. Many things in life are not yuppy in solution and we just have to let time heal the wound without making it deeper.

My answer to my friend, who doesn't want to be my friend was simple, but given after prayer, as I had prayed for control as I walked in his direction came to me in a flash, the flash I needed for I have been a little of the hothead over the years, and a part of me wanted to shout back, "Who the do you think you are not wanting me to speak to you or you to me?" Of course that thought is egoistic, centered in pride. I thought it better to speak quietly to myself and assure my self that while I could not speak this man, I could, did and will continue to speak to his creator. While wishing to speak to both creator and creature, as long as I have access to the CREATOR, I suppose I can live with the willfully deaf ears of a creature.

The accompanying verbiage of this thought goes something like this:

"Brother, I am sorry you have made this choice, but it is your choice and I will honor your choice. God bless"

The mouth of several who watched this, whatever you prefer to call it, dropped open. That quick near flash of outrageous conduct on the part of two grown men who profess faith in Christ, had the proverbial oil thrown on these troubled waters instead. I am thankful for the Lord giving the thought and the words to me. (I am NOT claiming inspiration along Scripture writing lines). A soft answer turns away wrath. At least that is what the Word of God has to say.

Larry Lilly Copyright 2007 Use with credit.

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